Defrosting device



y 1962 R. w. HlRD 3,033,967

DEFROSTING DEVICE Filed Nov. 23, 1959 INVEN TOR. BoZerf v.2 Hz'ni BY M@Ma United states Patent @1 3,933,967 DEFROSTING DEVICE Robert W. Hird,2412 Rosamond, Apt. 114, Houston, Tex. Filed Nov. 23, 1959, Ser. No.854,751 Claims. (Cl. 219-19) This invention relates to new and usefulimprovements in a defrosting device.

It is an object of this invention to provide a device for defrostingrefrigerators, and the like, having novel means for introducing steaminto the freezing area of the refrigerator to quickly and thoroughlymelt the ice and frost from the refrigerator coils and the walls of thecompartment.

The common method of defrosting home use refrigerators at the presenttime consists of turning the control dial of the unit to defrost andpermitting the refrigerator to remain out of use for a suflicient timeto permit the ice on the refrigerating mechanism to melt, which oftenimperils the perishable items requiring refrigeration and often in orderto speed the defrosting action, hot water is employed, and scraping andchipping of the ice is resorted to, all of which is slow, laborious anddisagreeable, and is dangerous to the mechanism of the refrigerator. Itis an object of this invention to provide a fast, efiicient and safemeans of accomplishing the task of defrosting such a refrigerator with aminimum of labor required.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide a device ofnovel design, providing easy storage in the compartment to be defrostedand which is safe and simple in operation.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention has relation tocertain novel features of operation, con struction and arrangement ofparts more particularly defined in the following specifications andillustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the device, in cross section.

FIGURE 2 is an end view of the View shown in FIG- URE l, and

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the device.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 1designates a framework formed of light sheet metal or plastic, insubstantially inverted V shape, having suitable gripping means 2, 2,which may be of an insulated material, such as hard rubber, and havingsuitable feet 3, 3 also formed of an insulated material such as hardrubber.

Mounted in the framework 1 is a tubular container 4, formed in a curveso that each end thereof is turned upwardly and is open and a heatingelement as 5 is mounted in the container 4 in any suitable manner suchas by anchoring same to the area forming the bottom of the container 4.A port 6 is formed in the bottom of the container 4 through which theelectric conduit 7 extends and suitable packing means such as a flexiblewasher and nut 8 seal the port 6.

In use, the container 4 is filled with Water and the device is lifted bythe user by means of the grips 2, 2, and placed in the freezingcompartment of the refrigerator, the conduit 7 being of the usual sizeof conduit employed with household appliances, will permit therefrigerator door to close, the usual insulation material sealing thedoor of the refiigerator yielding to permit the door to be closedwithout interfering with the conduit, and the free end of the conduit 7connected to the usual female outlet for a supply of electricity to theheating element 5. The water in the container 4 will be quickly heatedand steam Will be formed therein and pass outwardly from the open endsof the container 4 and over the refrigerator coils and the Walls of thecompartment, melting the ice and frost thereon.

Patented May 8, 1962 While the foregoing is considered a preferred formof the invention, it is by way of illustration only, the broad principleof the invention being defined by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a defrosting device, a rigid framework having a horizontal upperportion and downwardly and outwardly extending lower portions forming aninverted-V, the upper portion of said framework form a handle, a tubularcontainer mounted in said framework beneath said handle and having itsends open and extended upwardly, water in said container, a heatingelement in said container for converting the water therein to steam tobe discharged from said open ends.

2. In a defrosting device, a rigid framework having a horizontal upperportion and outwardly and downwardly extending lower portions forming aninverted-V, the upper portion of said framework forming a handle atubular container mounted in said framework beneath said handle andhaving its ends open and extended upwardly, water in said container, aheating element in said container for converting the Water therein tosteam.

3. In a defrosting device, a rigid framework having a horizontal upperportion and downwardly and outwardly extending lower portions forming aninverted-V, the upper portion of said framework forming a handle, atubular container mounted in said framework and having its ends open andextended upwardly, water in said container, a heating element in saidcontainer for converting the water therein to steam to be dischargedfrom said open ends and insulated feet on the lower ends of saidframework.

4. In a defrosting device, a portable framework having a horizontalupper portion and downwardly and outwardly extending lower portions,ports in said framework, a curved tubular water container mountedthrough said ports in said framework, the respective ends of saidcontainer extending upwardly and being open to permit steam to escapetherefrom and an electrical heating element mounted in said containerhaving an electrical conduit extending through said container to asource of supply outside of the device being defrosted.

5. In a defrosting device, a rigid framework formed of a flatrectangular sheet of rigid material and having a horizontal upperportion and bent forming a downwardly and outwardly extending lowerportion depending from each end of said upper portion, ports in saidlower portions, an upwardly extending arced tubular water containermounted in said framework and extending through said ports, the upperends of said arced tubular water container being open and beingsubstantially on the same horizontal plane as said upper portion of saidframework, a heating element in said tubular container for convertingwater in said container to steam, said steam escaping through the openends of said container.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS938,237 Hunnewell Oct. 26, 1909 1,656,150 Little Jan. 10, 1928 1,982,418Carmichael Nov. 27, 1934 1,986,247 Borden Jan. 1, 1935 1,996,761 Gouldet a1. Apr. 9, 1935 2,271,038 Shaver Jan. 27, 1942 2,323,846 SaltsmanJuly 6, 1943 2,466,479 Roach Apr. 5, 1949 2,500,219 Troupe Mar. 14, 19502,542,529 Hunt Feb. 20, 1951 2,772,063 Remstein Nov. 27, 1956 2,822,459Kamin Feb. 4, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 892,952 France Ian. 17, 1944

